An Introduction to Cyber Security for Business

The following series of workshops will teach you all you need to know about Cyber Security and how to protect yourself and your business online. The series will be presented by Essex Police and co-organised by the Hive and Southend Business Partnership.

This unique table top exercise is designed to explore the decisions that people make, in order to protect their businesses\ organisation from modern day threats, such as hacking and malware attacks, in addition to physical security and crime prevention

The exercise itself consists of two game boards which represent a company with separate premises. One board represents an office space, whilst the other represents an offsite location. Within these boards are staff, computers, databases, servers and turbines attached to an internet connected controller.

Although it is organised as a business with a plant location, it is based upon the same threats and risks that any company\ organisation would face.

Participants are informed that the business has just been added to the company’s portfolio and that there is no current physical or cyber security. Participants will be given a yearly budget and multiple purchase options in order to make the company more secure. During the exercise they will be faced with different scenarios and outcomes based upon their decisions, which will have a direct impact on their turnover. These scenarios are based upon real life situations and current threats. At the conclusion of the game, participants are debriefed and taken through their decisions.

Why you need to know about cyber security and how to protect you and your business

The threat from cybercrime to UK business is significant; the threat is varied and adaptable. It ranges from high volume, opportunistic attacks where technical expertise is bought as a service, to highly sophisticated and persistent threats incorporating bespoke malware designed to compromise specific targets. Combine this with the rise of internet connected devices, with ever increasing commercial footprints online gives the attackers more opportunity than ever before.

Most companies use the internet to conduct their business, buy, sell, advertise communicate with staff and suppliers as well as carrying out financial transactions. Every day there are attacks on IT systems of UK businesses; last year alone 66% of small businesses nationally had been a victim of cybercrime.

Whilst it is accepted you can never be totally secure, it is recognised that we can protect ourselves from most cyber-attacks with some basic security principles and processes for your staff and IT systems.

Education and awareness are key to ensuring business practices/principles are effective; create a culture where cyber security is part of business life. You and your staff need to be aware of cyber security threats and how to deal with them.

Cyber security practices are as important as locking your doors or putting your valuables in a safe. You can and should manage your online security in the same way you would protect any other aspect of your real world business/life. Doing the basics can reduce the risk and help protect you, your staff and your business from becoming victims of cybercrime.

Essex Police are planning to deliver a series of workshops, where local businesses can upskill themselves in cyber security and how and learn that by doing the basics can help protect themselves reducing the risk from becoming a victim of cybercrime.

Please note that we will only be taking 20 bookings for the first event.

To book on to all three workshops please use the following links;

1. 9 Oct 2018 – An Introduction to Cyber Security for Business - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tech-city-on-sea-presents-an-introduction-to-cyber-security-for-business-tickets-49731992729

2. 6 Nov 2018 – Keep your systems and data Safe from attack - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tech-city-on-sea-presents-keep-your-systems-and-data-safe-from-attack-tickets-49732131143

3. 5th Feb 2019 – Best practice when using Passwords for security - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tech-city-on-sea-presents-best-practice-when-using-passwords-for-security-tickets-49732257521

Meet your presenters - David Gibb & David Anthony

Your presenters for this workshop are Essex polices cyber protect officers, they each have over 30yrs law Enforcement experience with organisations such as Essex police, the National Crime Agency and Home Office. Between them they have worked in the world of cyber crime for the past 10yrs helping industry in protecting their assets and data. Both have sought professional self-development in the field of cyber crime with MSc in Forensic Computing and Cyber Investigations as well as information security accreditation with both CISM and CompTIA Security plus accreditations.